Stories

Student Philanthropist: From Friend to Friend to . . .

Stephanie Elowson ’08 received help from the class of 2006, and now helps inspire her own class
to continue the tradition.

Stephanie Elowson ’08 told a recent Faculty/Staff Campaign rally that the generosity
of a scholarship she received had made a world of difference in her IC education—and that she
plans to return the favor by joining with classmates to establish the Class of 2008 Scholarship as
their senior class gift. Stephanie was one of several scholarship recipients who addressed a gathering
of Ithaca College staff and faculty to garner support for the Faculty/Staff Endowed Scholarship, which
will be a collective gift from IC employees to the Campaign for Ithaca College. Here are excerpts from
her October 4 speech:

I am a senior double-majoring in business administration (concentration in marketing) and integrated
marketing communications. Last semester I was in the IC Los
Angeles Program, where I had the once-in-a-lifetime chance to intern for The Ellen DeGeneres
Show and NBC Universal Entertainment’s press and publicity department while taking classes.
The opportunities I had, the people I met, and the things I learned and saw were incredible, and
nothing that I will soon forget. It’s programs like these that really let IC students reach their
full potential and strive for their dreams while still in college.

On campus I am involved in a variety of organizations and activities. To name a few, I am cochair of
the School of Business Deans’
Hosts; an office intern for the Catholic community; a participant in Alternative Spring Break
Hurricane Katrina Relief in New Orleans; a peer leader for the Cross Cultural Leadership Retreat; and a
member of the Leadership Scholars program. It meant a lot to me when I chose Ithaca College four years
ago that I had a campus environment that could satisfy all of my interests as well as provide me with
new experiences. That’s one of the things I love most about Ithaca College: it’s the
students, faculty/staff/administration, and alumni that give back to this community, whether through
the programs, clubs, and organizations; or through speakers they bring to campus; or the scholarships
they make available to students.

I was very fortunate to receive the Class of 2006 Scholarship. I was most honored because it was
students like me who established a fund that would help other students continue their education here
and pursue other academic interests. It’s all about students helping other students, something
Ithaca is known for. This scholarship was so meaningful to me. Many of my friends graduated in the
class of 2006, and receiving the scholarship their class had established motivated me to want to do the
same to help other students. We’re investing in each other and helping each other along. To me,
that’s why scholarships established by students or the faculty/staff/administration are so
important. They come from the people and institution we love most.

I believe my fellow students echo my sentiments, and the class of 2008 class gift proves that. We have
voted to establish a scholarship fund to assist students who have credit-bearing but unpaid summer
internships. These experiences are so meaningful to our education, but the additional cost of paying
for the credits while not getting paid for the internship can really inhibit students from pursuing
these opportunities. We hope our scholarship will alleviate that worry for students and let them take
advantage of the internship of their dreams.

The class of 2006 invested in me and my future here by establishing a scholarship for undergraduate
students. We’re all investing in each other here because we want to help those in our Ithaca
family. The Faculty/Staff Endowed Scholarship is so crucial; to know that the educators and
administration we look up to and admire want to further our success invigorates us to strive for and
achieve more. I am eternally grateful for the Class of 2006 Scholarship, and I hope this faculty/staff
scholarship can assist other students like me.